How will the top four teams fare in the Asia Cup? Read our previews and decide for yourself

By PakPassion.net Staff (26th February, 2016)

Asia Cup 2016 | Team Preview : Pakistan

Pakistan are not considered the favorite's to win the tournament, but the two-time Asia Cup winners will hope to overcome the tougher opponents in tournament. Having lost their last 2 T20 tournaments, Pakistan will look to make amends this time around.

As always, they will have plenty to prove as they meet arch-rivals India on February 27th, followed by Bangladesh on March 2nd and Sri Lanka on March 4th. Asia Cup will be a good platform for the players to prove their worth to the selectors, with the World T20 occurring soon after.

In the previous edition of the Asia Cup, Pakistan managed to reach the final where they met Sri Lanka as their opponents. The Men in Green were only able to manage 260 in 50 overs, which Sri Lanka chased down with ease.

Squad:

Shahid Afridi (C), Mohammad Hafeez, Anwar Ali, Khurram Manzoor, Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfraz Ahmed (WK), Umar Akmal, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Sami, Sharjeel Khan

Watch out for:

Mohammad Nawaz: Having played for Quetta Gladiators at Pakistan Super League (PSL), some people label him as the ‘find of the tournament’. That label can be backed by some note-worthy performances. Prior to the final, Mohammad Nawaz was the second leading wicket taker of the tourney. His stats read: 13 wickets at an average of 16.84; truly impressive, isn't it? Whether he gets a game in Asia Cup or not, this youngster surely has a bright future ahead.

Key man:

Shoaib Malik: He hasn’t been in the greatest form lately; but Pakistan will need him to regain his form as the middle order revolves around him and his ability to hold an innings together. 

Discuss!

Asia Cup 2016 | Team Preview : India

India are coming into this T20 tournament on the back of winning 2 consecutive T20 series against Australia and Sri Lanka and are considered the favourites. Having had not much luck in ODIs recently, the change of format of this years Asia Cup to T20Is make India the favourites to win.

India are the most settled of sides, despite the loss of pace spearhead Mohammad Shami. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan all have been in fine form and will look to continue giving India solid starts. MS Dhoni's injury is a bit of a worry and Parthiv Patel has been named as an alternative should the worst happen. Due to his poor form of late, Dhoni should not be seen as a waning star, but should treated as the calm before the storm. Underestimate him at your own peril!

India take will play the inaugural match of the Asia Cup against hosts Bangladesh before they face arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday 27th. They then face Sri Lanka and the surprise entrant UAE.

India last won the Asia Cup in 2010 and have not tasted success since then. With WT20 looming up, India will look to win the Asia Cup and send out a strong statement to the competition.

Squad:

MS Dhoni (C, WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pawan Negi, Ashish Nehra, Hardik Pandya, Parthiv Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh,Yuvraj Singh

Watch out for:

Jasprit Bumrah: Drafted into the Indian team for the last ODI against Australia, Bumrah made the most of his opportunity . Bowling yorkers are not easy and Bumrah executed them regularly and accurately against a rampant Aussie lineup. Bumrah's abilities impressed Dhoni to the extent that he named him the 'find of the tour'. His yorkers will be crucial for India's campaign and is certainly someone to watch out for!

Key man:

Virat Kohli: Easily India's best batsman and the first and only individual to average over 50 in T20Is. By his own standards Kohli had a very poor run in 2015. He bounced back having a great outing down under, averaging 76 in ODIs and a staggering 199 in the T20Is! . Kohli's assuredness and sensible batting is what makes him a very dangerous batsman and claiming his wicket will be a prize for any bowler. 

Discuss!

Asia Cup 2016 | Team Preview : Bangladesh

It's been a great past year for the Tigers with respect to the ODI format. Their T20 record however, has been indifferent. Their latest disappointment being a 2-2 draw at home to Zimbabwe.

They have done well in the Asia Cup in the past few editions, which included reaching the finals where they eventually lost to Pakistan in a very close final. Having home ground advantage, Bangladesh should target qualifying for the finals again.

Shakib, Taskin and the man in form Mustafizur should provide an excellent bowling attack and should provide plenty of problems for the opposition to think about.

Squad:

Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Shakib Al Hasan, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Al-Amin Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Arafat Sunny, Abu Hider, Nurul Hasan

Watch out for:

Mustafizur Rahman: He has been an incredible find for Bangladesh. Garnering praise and even drawing comparisons, albeit premature, with Mohammad Amir. He will be a key player for the Tigers when it comes to their bowling attack.

Key man:

Shakib Al Hasan: His bowling and batting will be key, especially at home. He had an average PSL and his form will be a bit for worry but he is a quality player who will look to be at the top of his game come the 24th of February. 

Discuss! 

Asia Cup 2016 | Team Preview : Sri Lanka

2007, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014 represents an extraordinary list of finals the Sri Lankans have participated in and its safe to say they will look for another final place this time around.

Though the squad lacks experience, youngsters can look to Matthews, Malinga and Dilshan for guidance. Senanayake and Herath will be dangerous in Bangladeshi conditions. They do not start the tournament off as favorites; but in a format which is as unpredictable as T20 and given Sri Lanka's history of making the finals, it will not come as a surprise if they do qualify for the finals again.

Squad:

Lasith Malinga (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardana, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Jeffrey Vandersay

Watch out for:

Niroshan Dickwella: Untested but is coming off a strong half a dozen domestic games and a very good strike of 133 with 189 runs scored. With no Mahela or Sangakara some of these young guns will have to step up and absorb the pressure.

Key man:

Lasith Malinga: Simply put, Sri Lanka need this man to be on the top of his game. An inform Malinga can go a long way in making Sri Lanka a very dangerous opponent. However his form has been erratic and he will look to start well especially given the World T20 also isn't far away.

Discuss!